Chemistry Question #397
Ashley Robertson, a 24 year old male from the Internet asks on June 17, 1998,
How do "bath bombs" work? Why do they fizz when placed in water?
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The answer
Reg Mitchell
answered on June 16, 1998
Bath bombs contain sodium carbonate, a base, and a mild solid acid such as citric acid (from lemons) or tartaric acid (from grapes). It is CO2, carbon dioxide, generated by a reaction between the base and the acid when the product is placed in water, that makes the bubbles. Another product which bubbles in water for the same reason is Alka-Seltzer. The bubbling effect of the acid-base reaction in soap bombs is added to by the effect of the bubble bath type soap also used in the formulation.
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